Development and Dissemination of the kkiumipsa Technique in late Chosŏn, Focusing on Copper Crafts

Abstract

This paper studies the development of the kkiumipsa technique used on copper crafts, focusing on the types of the technique, materials, and the cultural consumption of the crafted items. The surviving artifacts and Intangible Cultural Heritage also provide information on the history of kkiumipsa in the Chosŏn period. kkiumipsa is a representational example that demonstrate how a traditional craft technique can be transmitted, transformed, and disseminated while reflecting contemporary social environment. This study is significant in understanding how the socio-cultural circumstances affect the way craftworks are consumed, and in appreciating the evolvement of traditional ways that are critical in transmission and improvement of craft techniques. The surviving artifacts show that two types of kkiumipsa technique were used in Chosŏn, one passed down from the Koryŏ period, and the other developed in the late Chosŏn period. The first technique, type I, was mainly employed for silver inlay items that were used by the royal family, private individuals, and Buddhist temples. As not only silver, but different materials of copper alloy such as black copper, nickel copper, and brass were considered precious, they were also used for embellishments. The type II uses heat and soldering to apply the inlay technique on narrow or thin surfaces of copper craftworks, for example, tobacco pipes, acupuncture needle cases, and columns of candlesticks. The use of the inlay technique on these items show that it was a part of the everyday life. The history of copper pipe making artisans (paektong yŏngjuk chang) and the inlay technique that they preserve, show that it was popularly used since the mid- to latenineteenth century at the latest.